Peter Mccabe / AP

There will be a lot of new faces on the Montreal Canadiens this season.

Stanley Cups: 24

2008-'09 record: 41-30-11, 93 points (2nd in Northeast, 8th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Lost to Boston Bruins 4-0

General manager: Bob Gainey (628-455-165, 16th NHL year, 2nd team)

Coach: Jacques Martin (517-406-175, 15th NHL year, 4th team)

Captain: TBD

Top returning scorer: D Andrei Markov (12 goals, 52 assists, 64 points)

Top returning goalie: Carey Price (23-16-10, 2.83, .905)

Key additions: C Scott Gomez; D Paul Mara; LW Travis Moen; D Jaroslav Spacek; D Hal Gill; RW Brian Gionta; LW Michael Cammalleri; G Curtis Sanford.

Key subtractions: D Mike Komisarek; LW Chris Higgins; D Doug Janik; RW Alexei Kovalev; C Saku Koivu; RW Tom Kostopoulos; D Mathieu Schneider; D Mathieu Dandenault; LW Alex Tanguay; D Francis Bouillon; D Patrice Brisebois; G Marc Denis; C Robert Lang.

Top line: LW Michael Cammalleri, C Scott Gomez, RW Brian Gionta

Top defensive pairing: Andrei Markov, Paul Mara

Goaltending: Cursed by the sophomore jinx, Price imploded in the second half after being voted the Eastern Conference starter for the NHL All-Star Game. Practice habits and off-ice pursuit of night life were questioned as his game suffered. Uses imposing size, quick glovehand and concise movements to foil shooters, but tends to get impatient and makes first move when he’s off his game.

Player to watch: LW Max Pacioretty. Scored a goal on his first NHL shot, then endured a 25-game goalless skid following midseason call-up to Habs as injury fill in. Strong forechecker is owner of a heavy slapshot and although still growing, is strong for a 20-year-old. Long, wide skating stance allows him to accelerate quickly.

Icing: Gomez has been taking intensive French language courses to fit in better in his new surroundings. Having grown up in the Devils system under general manager Lou Lamoriello and a strong Montreal influence, he is well-versed in the ways of discipline and how the Canadiens run their organization. Martin, the former longtime coach of the Ottawa Senators, returns to the Northeast Division after a stint with the Florida Panthers. Cammalleri's arrival from Calgary should help the offense, too. He posted 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) in 81 games last season. He was second in the NHL with 19 power-play goals. It will be strange to see someone else wearing the C' now that longtime captain Koivu has left for Anaheim.

Outlook: They jettisoned 11 players from an eighth-place team and added more small forwards to an already undersized team, then hired a coach known for a grinding, checking game. The Canadiens should make the playoffs, but just barely.

Prediction: 93 points, 2nd in Northeast, 7th seed in East

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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